The
Weekly
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 17
Board of Visitors considers 2-6% tuition increase JEAN MONDORO Senior Writer The University is considering an increase in tuition and fees between 2% and 6% for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Board of Visitors will be voting on the tuition increase during their meeting on April 8. “A discussion of various revenue sources supporting the university occurs every year as part of the budget development process,” said Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Paul Messplay. “We look at all the revenue sources, including tuition and fees, support we receive from the state and various other sources in order to determine the amount of available resources to support projected costs in the coming year.” The potential increase was announced in an email sent to the community on Feb. 7. According to the email, the increase would provide greater compensation for faculty and staff. The increase in tuition would also impact the cost of “goods and services” provided by the university, as stated in the email. When the notice was sent on Feb. 7, Anna Billingsley, the associate vice president for university relations, wrote that the decision was ongoing due to the 2022-24 state budget still being determined by the General Assembly. “As we prepare the budget, we are constantly trying to find the right balance between revenue generation and cost savings through budget reductions,” Messplay said. The Board of Visitors will be hosting a public comment session at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center in the Rappahannock Ballroom on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. to allow the UMW community to give feedback on the potential tuition increase. Those planning to attend may sign up for a slot during which to make a comment on the Board of Visitors website. Some students have shared their frustration about the potential increase. “Whenever I hear a university is raising tuition rates, I can’t help but laugh,” said senior political science major Shawn Fleetwood. “Colleges like UMW get tens of thousands of dollars from students every year and always somehow manage to still end up asking for us to shell out more money. While I understand that sometimes rates need to be raised to account for additions to the school or upkeep of university buildings, it just seems like so much money is directed to needless places.” While the increase irritaties junior marketing major Gabby Carrion, if approved, the additional cost will not prohibit her from attending the university. “I don’t think the tuition increase would affect my ability of going to school,” she said. “It will be annoying, but I would still be able to attend college.” When asked about the frustration some students may feel towards a tuition increase, Messplay said, “We are mindful of the impact that cost increases can have on students and their families. At the same time, we have real operating cost increases that must be addressed in order to continue to provide the high-quality educational experience our students expect.” According to an announcement the Eagle Eye, the faculty and staff newsletter, UMW has not increased tuition rates
SEE TUITION PAGE 2
INSIDE THE
RINGER
News | 2
History 297 and 298 will be combined into one class.
The University of Mary Washington Student Newspaper Serving the community since 1922
Ringer
FEBRUARY 17, 2022
Marceline Catlett delivers Black History Month keynote address
GRACE SCHUMACHER Senior Writer
On Feb. 9, the University of Mary Washington hosted Marceline Catlett as the speaker for the 2022 Black History Month keynote program. The James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC) and the Black Student Association (BSA) hosted the event, co-sponsored by the College of Education. The Black History Month Celebration, including the keynote program, is part of the Multicultural Center’s annual Cultural Awareness Series. This is the 28th year for the series, as the university has been celebrating Black History Month for close to 30 years, according to James Farmer Multicultural Center Director Marion Sanford.
“As an African American woman, knowing my history has formulated who I am.” -Marceline Catlett Native to the Fredericksburg area, Catlett has worked with
Catlett is the superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools. University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg City Public Schools since 1981 and was elected to be the school system’s 25th Division Superintendent in 2019. “JFMC is honored to have Dr. Catlett as a friend and supporter of the programs and services we provide to the campus and broader community,” said Sanford. “She has a long-standing meaningful and positive relationship with the University as a whole.” Catlett began her speech by emphasizing the importance of
Black History Month. UMW’s theme, “Healing Through History: Recognizing Our Struggles While Celebrating Our Triumphs,” aims to present students with an opportunity to lift spirits and share in the healing processes with others. She emphasized the importance of recognizing and learning from struggle in order to truly celebrate Black excellence. “Activist Marcus Garvey is quoted as saying, ‘A people without
SEE KEYNOTE PAGE 7
Nursing students now allowed to work with COVID-19 patients
ABBY KNOWLES Staff Writer Starting this semester, the joint UMW and Germanna Community College nursing program is allowing their students to work hands-on with COVID-19 patients while they complete their clinicals. Director of Nursing Dr. Janet Atarthi-Dugan believes that the school is doing the right thing by allowing their students to have hands-on work with COVID patients because, as nurses, they will not have the option to forgo working with COVID patients. She said that the program has received emails from parents who are concerned about the policy. “It is a disservice not to prepare students while we have the chance because they will have to take care of these patients once they start practicing,” she said. “Students have an experienced clinical educator with them while doing clinicals to safeguard them and the patients they care for.” A nurse for over 20 years, Atarthi-Dugan said that “nurses are and have always been at the front lines of healthcare; they care for patients exposed to Ebola, HIV, COVID-19 and some diseases we don’t even know names of yet.” She continued, “Rather than create this environment
Opinion | 3 Streaming services should not reward criminal behavior.
Nursing students are getting hands-on experience with COVID-19 patients. Photo courtesy of Morgan Brown and Kinsey Brooks
where we aren’t going to have [students] take over patients and not take the safest route, that is just not realistic. We want you [students] to take a variety of patients and make sure you feel comfortable in personal protective equipment.”
Life | 4
Virginity on your own terms: The Talk with Cosmy Pellis.
SEE NURSING PAGE 7
Sports | 8
Men’s basketball starts conference play Feb. 24.